MLB.com's Carrie Muskat has been covering Major League Baseball since 1981 and is the author of "Banks to Sandberg to Grace: Five Decades of Love and Frustration with the Cubs." You can follow her on Twitter @CarrieMuskat. Here, she blogs about the Cubs.

8/31 Early extra bases

* The Cubs are 10-15 in 25 games against the NL West. They were swept in three California series vs. the Giants, Dodgers and Padres, and also swept in Arizona. Chicago is 10-2 against the NL West at Wrigley Field, and 0-13 on the road.

* Luis Valbuena’s .311 batting average (19-for-61) and .440 on-base percentage in August both lead the club, while Alfonso Soriano’s 18 RBIs this month are tops on the team. Carlos Marmol has recorded a 1.00 ERA (1 ER/9 IP) in nine relief appearances this month.

* The Cubs are 7-21 in August. The .250 winning percentage is their lowest in August since going 6-24 (.200) in August of 1999.

* Friday’s game is the second time in its last 22 games dating to Aug. 9 that the Cubs will face a lefty start on the mound.

did you seriously just call Joe Mauer a bust???? Come on man… tell me you are joking? He has played 9 years of MLB ball and put up 35.5 WAR in those years (yes counting this year so far) Thats almost 4 WAR a year…. thats pretty amazing at Catcher. The injuries as of late are due to him being 6’5 and getting older. Catching really takes a toll on your body and he is a good enough athlete to make the adjustment to 1B, maybe even 3B or OF. Try knowing what you are talking about before you run your mouth… its getting bad on here Carrie!!!!!!!!

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